Children in the news
Ofsted highlights NEETs successes
The children’s services inspectorate gives councils a five-point plan for improving their work with excluded young people
Council reacts to Khyra sentencings
Birmingham insists lessons have been learned from the case of a seven-year-old starved to death despite referral to social workers
'Sarah's Law' to be rolled out after trial
Ministers announce plans to extend ‘Sarah’s Law’ to all police forces in England and Wales after trials in four counties
Cost of Laming recommendations highlighted
One proposal alone could cost councils £250m a year and require 6,300 more social workers, researchers say
Sandwell suspends 10 over safeguarding
Action from the Midlands council follows a damning Ofsted inspection of children’s services
Balls warning to Birmingham over child death
The education secretary Ed Balls says officials face serious questions about how a seven-year-old starved to death
Consultation on special needs provision
Parents are to be consulted over advanced teacher training to help schools respond better to children with special needs
Ministers urged to redraw social care laws
The Law Commission launches proposals for a single new care statute saying current laws cause “confusion, delay and inconsistency”
Ofsted: School improvement should be devolved
The inspectorate calls for greater focus on locally-tailored, ‘demonstrably effective’ programmes
More pupils to get cycling lessons
The Government announces a £12.5m plan to get more schoolchildren cycling safely
LGA concern at new safeguarding guidance
Government proposals are said to be too long for hard-pressed staff to read and will not compensate for a shortage of social workers
Councils 'judge and fail families'
Local authorities are criticised by families for failing to meet their needs and for judging their lives
Mental health services for looked-after kids 'patchy'
Ofsted says over-16s in care get inconsistent access to help
Young 'not prepared for the workplace'
Many young people say they do not believe their education has prepared them for the world of work
Young offenders 'face sentencing lottery'
Young offenders face a postcode lottery over sentencing, with some youth courts up to 10 times more likely to impose custodial sentences
Analysis: Children's Services
Jack of all trades - master of none?
One history lesson Ofsted might have missed teaches that you should be wary of opening a second front when you’re still fighting on the first
Baby P: the good changes - and problems
The aftermath of Baby Peter’s tragic death brings good and bad changes, says Kim Bromley-Derry
Balls after Baby P: 'Short on detail'
Balls’ response to Lord Laming’s Baby P review falls worryingly short on detail in some of the most important areas where change needs to happen - LGC’s Jim Dunton assesses reaction to the government’s announcement.
Watchdog challenged by its new broad remit
This week a new regulator officially took over responsibility for ensuring standards are met in health and social care, bringing together three separate predecessors. Some question the Care Quality Commission’s ability to be all things to all people.
Centralised funding climbs agenda
Few things send the blood pressure of the nation’s Mr Angries soaring faster than crucial public services being offered on the basis of a postcode lottery.
